Palestinians and aid groups suspect Israel is gradually adopting a new tactic in northern Gaza
Published October 12, 2024
On Saturday morning, a message was posted on social media by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesman warning people living in the ‘D5’ area of northern Gaza to move south. D5 is a square on the grid superimposed over maps of Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It is a block that is split into several dozen smaller areas.
The message, the latest in a series, said: “The IDF is operating with great force against the terrorist organisations and will continue to do so for a long time. The designated area, including the shelters located there, is considered a dangerous combat zone. The area must be evacuated immediately via Salah al-Din Road to the humanitarian area.”
A map is attached with a large yellow arrow pointing from block D5 down to the south of Gaza. Salah al-Din Road is the main north-south route. The message is not promising a swift return to the places people have been living in, an area that has been pulverised by a year of repeated Israeli attacks. The heart of the message is that the IDF will be using “great force… for a long time”. In other words, don’t expect to come back any time soon.
The humanitarian area designated by Israel in the message is al-Mawasi, previously an agricultural area on the coast near Rafah. It is overcrowded and no safer than many other parts of Gaza. BBC Verify has tracked at least 18 airstrikes on the area.
Hamas has sent out its own messages to the 400,000 people left in northern Gaza, an area that was once the urban heartland of the Strip with a population of 1.4m. Hamas is telling them not to move. The south, they are told, is just as dangerous. As well as that, Hamas is warning them that they will not be allowed back.
Many people appear to be staying put, despite Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments. When I went down to an area overlooking northern Gaza I could hear explosions and see columns of smoke rising. The intensity reminded me of the first months of the war.
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SOURCE: www.bbc.com
RELATED: Middle East crisis: Israeli airstrikes kill 19 in Gaza as forces push deeper into Jabalia
Israel’s campaign, aimed at eliminating Hamas, has claimed more than 42,000 Palestinian lives over the past year, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hamas militants launched a surprise anniversary attack against Israel, marking one of the most intense escalations in the long-standing Gaza–Israel conflict on October 7, 2023.
Published October 12, 2024
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight killed at least 19 Palestinians, according to medical sources on Saturday, as Israeli forces advanced deeper into Jabalia, a densely populated area where thousands of civilians are reportedly trapped. Jabalia, in northern Gaza, is the largest of the territory’s historic refugee camps and has been the focus of intensified Israeli military operations in recent days.
Residents reported relentless bombing from both the air and ground, with the Israeli military having targeted the area for the past week. While there has been no recent comment from Israel, military statements earlier indicated that operations in Jabalia were aimed at neutralising Hamas militants, seizing weapons, and dismantling militant infrastructure. According to Palestinian health officials, around 150 people have been killed in the Jabalia area since the offensive began.
On Friday, Israeli airstrikes hit four homes in Jabalia, killing about 20 people and injuring dozens more. Israeli troops have also moved into nearby towns such as Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, ordering residents to evacuate and head south. However, Palestinian officials and the United Nations have voiced concerns, emphasising that no part of Gaza is truly safe due to ongoing attacks. They also warned of looming shortages of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medical aid, raising fears of a potential famine in northern Gaza.
Israel’s campaign, aimed at eliminating Hamas, has claimed more than 42,000 Palestinian lives over the past year, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The conflict erupted following a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 people taken hostage. In response to the latest Israeli operations, Hamas accused Israel of targeting civilians in Jabalia as retaliation for residents’ refusal to evacuate. Israel denies that civilians are being targeted, emphasising its focus on Hamas fighters.
Amid the violence, humanitarian challenges are growing. United Nations officials warned that Israel’s military actions in northern Gaza could disrupt a polio vaccination campaign. Despite the turmoil, Gaza’s health ministry announced that vaccinations for children would proceed, starting Monday in central Gaza and lasting three days. Humanitarian pauses are planned to allow access to vulnerable populations for vaccinations, following the recent detection of the poliovirus in Gaza for the first time in 25 years.
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SOURCE: www.financialexpress.com
